What you need to know
- More security issues with the Pixel 6a fingerprint sensor surfaced after it was launched in the market.
- Some users have reported that the phone can recognize fingerprints that have not been scanned before.
- However, since only a few cases have been reported, the problem may be isolated.
The Pixel 6a, like the flagship Google Pixel 6 series, appears to be facing its share of issues just a few days after it was launched on the market.
While the Google Pixel 6a hit store shelves last week with a slight improvement in the under-display fingerprint sensor compared to its more expensive siblings, a potential security vulnerability appears to be haunting the device. many of Reddit users (Opens in a new tab) reported that their device recognized unregistered fingerprints (via 9to5Google (Opens in a new tab)).
The problem started even before Google released the phone to the public, with some reviewers noting successful attempts to unlock the device using an unregistered fingerprint. Now the same security issue appears to be raising its ugly head for consumers who have already received their units.
On Reddit, one user claimed that holding their index finger on the scanner unlocked the Pixel 6a even though only their thumbs were registered. The problem appeared to a few users who shared their stories in the comments section.
Android Central has reached out to Google for comment, but we haven’t received a response yet.
However, the problem appears to be an isolated case. As noted by 9to5Google, the issue did not affect any of the four Pixel 6a units I checked. It is unclear how widespread this problem is. You can try to remove every fingerprint saved on the phone and register your fingers again to fix the problem.
Google may have a fix up its sleeve with the first update that includes the June security patch. The update is currently rolling out, and will be available to a wider range of Pixel 6a devices over the next week, depending on the region and carrier.
Let’s hope that the device does not have a long list of bugs like the best Android phones from Google.
